Disappointed in the quality of your Nexus 5’s camera? A developer by the name of Jishnu Sir over on XDA created a flashable .zip file in hopes to vastly improve the quality of your camera. It’s essentially a whole new app that replaces the stock camera that you currently have. Obviously doing this will require you to unlock your bootloader and have some sort of custom recovery (i.e. ClockworkMod or TWRP). Here’s a full list of what the new camera app adds or improves:

If you’d like to read up on some user feedback on how the hack has worked for some, check out the source link which directs you to the XDA thread. If anyone out there is willing to give this a shot, report back in the comment section and let us know your results!

Ever since Google released their Chromecast this past summer, a constant battle has been going on between Google and owners of the device. More specifically, Google has continued to try to maintain control over how a Chromecast can be used and what content it is capable of streaming. Meanwhile, users have been trying to figure out ways to make the device more useful for their purposes and capable of streaming content they are interested in instead of what Google thinks they should be interested in. A new mod called KyoCast from XDA forum member Kyonz is a step in the direction of more freedom, at least for those users who managed to root their device before Google figured out a way to clamp down on that.

Thanks to designgears and Chainfire, the Verizon Wireless Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has been rooted. The bootloader is still locked, but this can only mean that it will be cracked very soon. At least you will be now be able to install apps that require root permission, which many of you need.

The tool is called Root de la Vega, which is named after Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility. A very important feature of this method is the Knox flags will remain intact, thus keeping your warranty. Just hit the source link for full instructions and file download links.

Do you wish your new Galaxy Gear smartwatch ran more than just the specifically designed apps that are available on it? Well, the Gear still runs Android underneath Samsung’s skinned overlay, so it was only a matter of time before someone found out how to make it work. Some clever owners have figured out that if you enable USB debugging on the smartwatch, you can load apps through ADB onto the device. Pretty much all non-Google apps work, including Candy Crush and music and video players. The Google apps don’t work because the watch lacks specific framework apps in the system folder, and there’s no way around that without root.

If you’re the tinkering type, this should definitely cause you to give the Galaxy Gear a second look. Hopefully we’ll see some really cool stuff being done with the Gear before long. If you want specific instructions for your own Galaxy Gear, you can hit the link below to check them out on Ars Technica.

When CyanogenMod reorganized itself as a new company (Cyanogen Inc.), one of their main goals was to make sure their product was extremely easy to install so that it doesn’t have to be limited only to those that have experience with flashing. That’s why Cyanogen is trying to release a Cyanogen Installer which will let you quickly get the software on your device in no time at all.

To get this project off the ground, Cyanogen has started a beta-testing program for testers willing to try it out. However, this isn’t your basic sign-up list— you have to meet the following criteria to be selected.

CyanogenMod’s update to version 10.2 will bring plenty of welcome improvements, and one of them is an updated Privacy Guard app to version 2.0. This app currently allows users to manage app permissions, not only displaying what apps have access to what information, but letting the users control which information they will voluntarily share with their apps.

Privacy Guard 2.0 will integrate “AppOps,” which lets the system remove permissions and return empty data sets when permissions are denied for an app. You will be able to easily switch on/off individual permissions for things such as location, reading contacts, SMS/MMS, etc. A notifications feature has also been added which will let you know when you are using an app that has permissions blocked that it requires to run. It’s definitely a good troubleshooting tool for when your app suddenly doesn’t work anymore after it doesn’t have the ability to use your device’s GPS, for example. The UI has also been changed a bit to make it simpler to navigate the app. It’s definitely a nice addition to CM 10.2 and we’re looking forward to seeing what other goodies are in store from the CM team.

While CyanogenMod moved forward in becoming a company this week, there were worries that the tinkering days were over. This appears to not be the case as Koushik Dutta posted a video on his Google+ account demonstrating AirPlay Mirroring capabilities in CyanogenMod. For those that don’t know, the AirPlay Mirroring is a proprietary protocol of Apple’s that allows people to use compatible devices to push whatever their streaming in iOS to their HD TV through Apple TV.

While there are apps in the Play Store that can do this, this is the first that we’re seeing it built straight into the OS. As you’ll see from the video after the break, he’s mirroring through his HTC One. Koush hasn’t given a time frame other than “coming soon.” However, those of you who have an Apple TV and run CyanogenMod should rejoice as this will be another feature that adds convenience without the need for another app. Like it was said before, we have Koush’s video for you after the break.

If you have a Motorola Moto X and just cannot wait for Android 4.3 to be released for your device, you can try flashing a new build that has been put together from resources dumped off a test device. XDA member jimmydafish posted a zip file that includes everything needed to load this particular Android 4.3 build onto your Moto X. You do need to have an unlocked bootloader. Whether you would really want to do this may be questionable though as even jimmydafish indicates in his testing that it seems to run slower than the current build of Android 4.2.2 on the Moto X. He does indicate the camera app seems to be an improvement.

To fastboot flash the system onto your Moto X, just follow the source link to find the zip file containing the necessary bits along with instructions. Just remember you are taking things into your own hands as far as the continued operation of your device, so be sure you are willing to live with the results whatever they may be. If you do undertake this install, be sure to post here and let us know your impressions.

On the heels of the public’s worries about the NSA and “big brother” checking in on us, Wickr has released its app to Android devices, as it was already available through the iOS App Store.

The application allows users to send encrypted messages anonymously and privately, and users can also select an option which will cause your message to be permanently deleted after a certain time period ends, much like Snapchat’s well-known feature.

Here are some words from Wickr’s co-founder, Robert Statica:

“Wickr not only offers the most secure form of correspondence but also helps protect our users’ contacts as we anonymize this information before it leaves the senders phone. Wickr does not collect any personally identifable information on users nor can we read any messages or contents sent through Wickr, therefore, no criminal or rogue government can take them from us.”

So if you’re truly worried about the government and those “big bad corporations” spying on you, it looks like Wickr is the perfect app for you. Hit the break for a video and the link to the app in the Play Store.

XDA-Developers user djkinetic has established a one-click root method for the LG G2 which will work on both Verizon and AT&T variants of the device. Full instructions are available, and it will give you all the information you need to fully set up tools like SuperUtility on your device.

This is great news, especially given the exceptional internals in the G2— this phone is a hacker’s dream. Hit the source link if you’re up to the task.

Root access on the Sprint, U.S. Cellular, and T-Mobile variants of the Moto X has been relatively simple and straightforward, as Motorola hasn’t put too many safeguards in the way of consumers messing with their devices for these carriers. However, Verizon and AT&T customers haven’t been so lucky. However, that might change very soon for Verizon customers, as developer Justin Case of TeamAndIRC has achieved root on their Moto X, and the procedure also applies to the new DROID phones. The root isn’t permanent at this time and you might want to hold off on any OTA updates if you’re planning on going through with the root.

It’s great news nonetheless and hopefully Justin Case comes out with a more stable method sooner than later.

If you have a new device with Android’s stock keyboard or you happened to install the Google Keyboard standalone app on your device, but you thought you liked one of the older style themes, we have some good news for you. Apparently Google never bothered to remove the “theme” code from previous versions of Android as the keyboard app has matured over time and these old themes, and one other, can be accessed with a little work on your part.

In unexpected news, Verizon’s brand new HTC One actually has an unlockable bootloader. No, we aren’t joking. the HTC Dev bootloader unlock process works on Big Red’s version of the phone, and even though that means it isn’t a full S-Off unlock, it’s still going to give you enough room to flash custom ROMs and the like. As a cherry on top, there are already easy root files available and a version of CWM recovery has already been ported.

Knowing Verizon, this was probably not intentional and it could very easily be patched up relatively quickly. If you have a new HTC One, you may want to consider following the links below to go ahead and get your device unlocked before Verizon patches anything up.

One of the great things about Android is the ability to tweak and adjust so many different settings. A challenge for anyone looking to dig deep into their system to customize several settings is the plethora of tools needed to do so. XDA Senior Member J.Y.Daddy decided to do something about that and has produced Andromizer, an app that consolidates several tools and access to a litany of settings and tweaks into one location. Especially nice is the clean, logical user interface that make it easy to access the setting you want to adjust.